Blue Jays on Pace to Reach 70 Wins in Fewest Games Since 1993
By Dan Rankin
With the Toronto Blue Jays on pace to record their 70th win in the fewest games since 1993, we take a look back at their success — or lack thereof — of reaching this mark in August, since their last World Series win.
On August 17, way back in 1993, the Toronto Blue Jays collected their 70th victory of the season against the Cleveland Indians. Starter Jack Morris picked up the win, while Duane Ward earned his 33rd save – both were among those involved in the Blue Jays pre-game ceremony on Sunday, recognizing the fantastic arms fans have cheered on over the past 40 seasons.
In all the seasons of baseball Toronto has played since, they’ve never reached 70 wins as early in August as they did that year – in just 121 games. They also, I’m sure you’ll recall, didn’t reach the postseason during that span, until last season. In fact, since 1993, Toronto has only cracked the 70-win mark five times during August.
In 1998, the Blue Jays fought to 70 wins during the dog days of summer for the first time in five years, thanks to a Cy Young season from Roger Clemens. However, it was elder-statesman Dave Stieb who recorded the landmark win.
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Stieb’s appearance on Aug. 29 was the last win of his illustrious career, and the only victory he picked up for the Jays in 19 appearances that season. They wound up in third place with a record of 88-74 – their best showing during that vast, wind-swept expanse without postseason baseball in Toronto.
The following year, they reached 70 wins in August once more, one day later on the calendar, on Aug. 30. The 1999 team was notable for setting then-franchise records for most runs scored in a season (883) and most hits in a season (1,580).
Of course… ahem… Toronto pitchers also gave up more runs than any Blue Jays team since 1979. However, runs against weren’t an issue on that day.
Wily vet Pat Hentgen recorded a 2-1 home win over the Twins, with Billy Koch converting his 26th save for team win number 70. Come fall, it was another third-place finish for the Jays (84-78), who were stuck in limbo behind the powerful Yankees and Red Sox.
A year later to the day, Toronto once again narrowly escaped August with 70 wins. Their matchup on the road against the Angels was Toronto’s final game of the month, and All-Star David Wells made it count, picking up his 19th win of the season in an 11-2 laugher.
The 2000 campaign was notable for the heroics of slugger Carlos Delgado – he was named the American League’s Hank Aaron Award winner and The Sporting News’ Player of the Year. However, the Jays (83-79) finished out of contention once again, in third place.
That’s when things took an ugly turn. Toronto didn’t even have 60 wins by the end of August in 2002 as, sadly, Roy Halladay could only pitch every five days (Sunday during the pitchers’ ceremony, the Doc had some thoughts on the Aaron Sanchez situation).
It was Halladay, of course, who was eventually able to get the team its 70th win. Unfortunately, it came on Sept. 18, with less than two weeks left in the season.
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The Blue Jays finished with a record of 78-84, good enough for (you’ve guessed it) third in the American League East. Even winning 16 of their last 20 games wasn’t enough to make a dent in the 2002 Yankees’ division lead.
In 2003 and 2005, Toronto failed to win 70 games in August. In between, the less said about 2004 the better, as win number 70 never came (the Jays finished 67-94).
In 2008, Jays fans once again had the pleasure of seeing their team win 70 games before September – barely. Halladay got it done once more, out-dueling Andy Pettite at old Yankee Stadium in a 6-2 win on Aug. 3, to give his team a record of 70-66. (They were 14 ½ games off the pace at the time.)
After this, it didn’t happen again until last year. On Aug. 25, 2015, LaTroy Hawkins was assessed the win in a 6-5 road decision against the soon-to-be hated Texas Rangers.
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This represented the earliest Toronto had won 70 games in a season, since their last World Series year in 1993, achieving the feat in 125 games. We wait to see if they can beat 2015’s mark. (They enter Wednesday’s action at 68-52, with 120 games played.)